If dropping the slide just to chamber a round before putting the safety on and then holstering or just casual/target shooting I use my strong hand thumb. If speed loading where shots are going to continue to be fired after the slide is down then as I slam the magazine home I just roll my support hand up to the shooting position and drop the side with the tip of the support hand thumb...
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^ This is what I do on guns that have slide releases, for the most part, but with my 22 LR target pistols, I do usually slingshot the slide, & occasionally, I might on something else, but slingshotting is not my norm for most guns.
MM
